Beyond Legislation: Policy Discourses and Implementation Gaps in India's NAMASTE Scheme on Manual Scavenging

Abstract

This study undertakes a critical evaluation of the NAMASTE Scheme (National Action for Mechanized Sanitation Ecosystem) through data obtained under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005, to assess the operationalisation of India’s statutory and policy mechanisms for the elimination of manual scavenging. Drawing on a mixed-methods research design, the study combines quantitative data acquired via RTI with qualitative analysis of global waste management models to examine implementation efficacy, structural limitations, and policy coherence. The study engages with legislative and institutional frameworks while foregrounding the intersection of caste, labour, and sanitation in the Indian context. A comparative policy review is conducted with reference to Sweden, Japan, South Korea, Germany, the Netherlands, and Singapore, countries that have established high-functioning, inclusive sanitation systems. Preliminary analysis reveals critical implementation gaps in training, technological deployment, and livelihood rehabilitation. The study concludes that India’s pathway toward eradicating manual scavenging must align legal intent with decentralised governance, caste-sensitive mechanisation, and global best practices rooted in accountability and social justice.